Spirit of Purpose · Call Me By My Name My name is Teressa. Not Theresa, Tressa, or Ta-race-a. When Kamala Harris, the first Black, Asian, Female Vice President of the United States was sworn into office, Justice Sotomayor mispronounced her first name. While such incidents are often unconscious and unintentional, the recipient may experience the mistake […]
Read More →Spirit of Purpose · Many Shades of Microagression As we engage with members of culturally marginalized groups, our words and actions can cause hurt and do harm. In his book, “Microaggressions in Everyday Life,” Derald Wing Sue teaches us about our impact, whether intended or not, through three types of microaggressions. Micro-insults. Micro-assaults. Micro-invalidations. Micro-insults are rude, insensitive […]
Read More →Spirit of Purpose · Look for Learning Opportunities Learning opportunities abound, especially when you’re in culturally diverse groups. To wake up your awareness of the disparate impact of certain behaviors on people of color and white women, take a more objective look at the dynamics that occur during meetings, in public spaces, even in personal relationships. […]
Read More →According to Merriam Webster, microaggression is defined as “a comment or action that subtly and, often unconsciously or unintentionally, expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group.” Often, the action is so subtle and habituated that the perpetrator does it without even realizing it. Microaggressions land hard on the people they’re being […]
Read More → In a recent TED Talk, Melinda Epler suggests that we can all become allies and supporters of co-workers who are the victims of microaggression. Epler, who helps tech companies address diversity and inclusion issues, advocates for allyship at work for people who are being marginalized through microaggression. She says that when someone interrupts another, […]
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